Wing commander missing for 5 months

A wing commander from engineering branch has been missing from Amritsar air force station for over five months under mysterious circumstances. Indian Air Force has since declared him a deserter after a Court of Inquiry (CoI).

Wing commander Shashank Shekhar was shifted from Chandigarh air force station to Amritsar in October of 2011.He was in service since 2000.

As per his mother Vimlesh Sharma of Ambala, his son had told her that he was under lot of pressure and tension from superior authorities. He had even approached police and senior IAF officers regarding alleged threats to his life and liberty.

The wing commander has been missing from duty since October 24, 2011. A DDR was registered at Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport police station in Amritsar.

Vimlesh had even written to the chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, submiting, "I am gravely concerned about the safety of my son and strongly apprehend that the air force authorities at Amritsar have caused harm to my son whose whereabouts are not known since 24.10.2011. I humbly plead for your kind indulgence as all my efforts to approach the air force authorities and police authorities have remained futile."

She had even approached Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, on December 1, 2011, to request him to expedite the matter.

On the other hand, sources at Amritsar air force station claimed that the missing officer was mentally upset over his divorce. He had even faced allegation of domestic violence. He had also remained absent without leave while posted at Chandigarh also, the sources alleged.

The wing commander's Indica car was found abandoned in Shimla in Himachal two months ago.